Premier Ramathuba, Mayor Mpe tackle illegal water connections
Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and the Polokwane Executive Mayor John Mpe on Friday paid a surprise visit to Matshelapata in the Boyne area tackling challenges of vandalism and illegal connections of water. The illegal connections have affected the Ebenezer pipeline that is supplying water in the Municipality.
This is due to a syndicate of people selling water to the community members, intercepting water from Ebenezer Pipeline. 25% of water is reportedly lost along his line with more than 20 illegal connections.
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The illegal connections affect the availability of supply to Polokwane and Seshego and other areas, including Mankweng. The illegal connections also pose a health risk to the community. The losses on the distribution lines range between 19% and 28% every month and cost R26, 464,464.00 of financial losses to date.
Loss on the Ebenezer distribution line alone has increased from R1 540 405.40 in 2023 to R2 242 862.40 in the 2024 financial year.

PREMIER DR PHOPHI RAMATHUBA AND MAYOR JOHN MPE DEAL WITH THE ILLEGAL CONNECTIONS OF WATER IN POLOKWANE
Illegal water connection activities also pose significant health risks to the community. It can lead to water supply disruptions in the City of Polokwane.
“Without reliable water in Polokwane, which is an area where a number of industries are there. That requires water. We are going to have serious problems,” said Premier Dr Ramathuba.
“So that’s why we are saying those who feel we are just here and we don’t know what we are doing, we are saying water is for our own personal use. There is no alternative to water. Even if you have money, there is no alternative to water. Water is just water and basic human rights. It’s life and death. So that’s why you see all of us here.”
“We are all here to plead to our people that illegal connections are the ones that are causing our people not to get water. We want all our people to have water. If water doesn’t reach Polokwane, it’s a headache for us in Polokwane. If you didn’t make illegal connections, we would be starting another project of Nobody to fix. But we can’t start Nobody until we fix Polokwane. So you are destroying yourself.”